Cork Underlay - Use It Under Any Flooring Material

By Author: Vikram Kumar
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Floor underlayment is a necessity for most kinds of flooring. Hardwood, coconut, laminate or bamboo flooring installation necessitates the use of underlayment. Underlayment, also known as underlay, performs three important functions. First and foremost, it evens-out any minor imperfections that may exist on the subfloor. Secondly, it provides an acoustic effect and deadens the sound of footsteps. In addition to this, it has a cushioning effect and makes the floor more “walkable”. Cork is a naturally-occurring material and a very environment-friendly choice for underlay.

Cork underlay is becoming the preferred option in place of foam underlay. The latter is made using a petrochemical process and is harmful to the environment. Cork has been used as an underlay material for decades. A boom in the foam industry brought it to the forefront and it started being used instead of cork underlay. As an underlayment, foam performs well when it produced to the highest quality, but is a carbon-intensive material as it is manufactured using chemicals that are extracted during the oil refinement process. The process pollutes the ...
... environment and like plastic, foam too, is not easily recyclable. It is a non-biodegradable material that damages the environment.

In stark contrast is cork. This is acquired from the bark of the cork oak. The tree itself comes to no harm and governments in countries where cork is harvested have laid down very strict norms around its production. After one harvesting cycle, the tree is left un-touched for 9-15 years and the bark eventually grows back in that period of time. The quality of the cork improves with every subsequent cycle. It can be re-cycled and this biodegradable material does not pollute the environment. Just as cork is an excellent underlay material, it provides great-looking flooring as well.

Modern technology has added an edge to this material as a flooring option. Its versatility and durability now come with the convenience of floating floors. These cork plank floors are not glued-down to the sub floor but are pre-fabricated and pre-finished. They simply have to be snapped in place and are very convenient and fast to install. Cork flooring with an underlay of cork provides a comfortable, cushioned floor and is an ideal one for high-use areas such as a kitchen. The glue down tile is suitable for moisture prone areas such as bathrooms as well.

The honeycomb structure of cork traps air and gives it bounce and makes it an ideal material for insulation. Using cork tile floors and cork underlayment on the upper floors in your house will deaden the sound of footsteps and it provides heat-insulation as well. This breathable material looks good and is largely maintenance-free. It will need the occasional refreshing of the finish and finish when the appearance takes on a bit of a ragged look. Apart from this, there is no special attention that cork flooring requires. Buy the flooring from a reputed store, online or otherwise and have it installed from experts. This will ensure that the floor behaves in the manner that it should and gives you years of trouble-free service.

Cork Floor Sales has different shades and colors of Cork tile flooring options. They are also able to install the Cork underlay and flooring for you.